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Holy Mole!: A Folktale from Mexico
Sometimes the most unintentional mistakes yield some magical results!
Carlos is working in the kitchen of the Mexican monastery when the cook enters the room in a panic. The Spanish Viceroy is on his way for a surprise visit and will arrive by noon, expecting dinner. What will the brothers feed this important ambassador to the king? Carlos tries to stay out of the way as lunch is hastily prepared, but his curiosity gets the best of him. His eagerness results in a moment of crisis, followed by what the brothers can only assume is a miracle. This story, inspired by the Mexican folk tradition, explains the origins of molé, the popular national dish that combines chocolate with turkey, spices, and nuts. Stefan Czernecki's amusing, angular illustrations capture the chaos in the kitchen as well as the folk tradition behind the tale.
Carlos is working in the kitchen of the Mexican monastery when the cook enters the room in a panic. The Spanish Viceroy is on his way for a surprise visit and will arrive by noon, expecting dinner. What will the brothers feed this important ambassador to the king? Carlos tries to stay out of the way as lunch is hastily prepared, but his curiosity gets the best of him. His eagerness results in a moment of crisis, followed by what the brothers can only assume is a miracle. This story, inspired by the Mexican folk tradition, explains the origins of molé, the popular national dish that combines chocolate with turkey, spices, and nuts. Stefan Czernecki's amusing, angular illustrations capture the chaos in the kitchen as well as the folk tradition behind the tale.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published December 21, 2006
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 2, 2022
Holy Mole! is based on a Mexican folktale. I love folktales and lately, I am trying to read folktales from around the world. While I cannot comment on the authenticity of this folktale, this book was terrible. Just when I thought that there would be a further explanation, the book ends abruptly. Illustrations were below average. And for me as a reader and the story isn't there.
2 stars
2 stars
September 5, 2020
I don't know what the author was thinking.
Holy Molé! is a retelling of the origin story of Mexican mole sauce. In a note at the back, the author tells the reader that there are two main versions of the tale: one involving a nun named Sister Andrea, and another involving a monk named Brother Pascual Bailon. In both, they are preparing a dish for the Spanish Viceroy when things go wrong and a whole bunch of accidental ingredients end up in the pot, resulting in mole sauce. Unfortunately, the author chose to go with the version involving the monk... and then added a small local boy as a "kitchen boy". Institutionalized child molestation and colonial slavery immediately come to mind, rendering what could've been an interesting folktale retelling into an uncomfortable picture book.
The illustrations don't redeem the book at all for me, either. The characters are angular, basic, and rather unappealing. This is a book about food, and the drawings of the food are less than mouthwatering.
I can't recommend this one at all. While the original story is somewhat interesting, the choices made for this retelling are just... icky.
Holy Molé! is a retelling of the origin story of Mexican mole sauce. In a note at the back, the author tells the reader that there are two main versions of the tale: one involving a nun named Sister Andrea, and another involving a monk named Brother Pascual Bailon. In both, they are preparing a dish for the Spanish Viceroy when things go wrong and a whole bunch of accidental ingredients end up in the pot, resulting in mole sauce. Unfortunately, the author chose to go with the version involving the monk... and then added a small local boy as a "kitchen boy". Institutionalized child molestation and colonial slavery immediately come to mind, rendering what could've been an interesting folktale retelling into an uncomfortable picture book.
The illustrations don't redeem the book at all for me, either. The characters are angular, basic, and rather unappealing. This is a book about food, and the drawings of the food are less than mouthwatering.
I can't recommend this one at all. While the original story is somewhat interesting, the choices made for this retelling are just... icky.
November 9, 2020
Ok this was ridiculous.
Moral story : not found.
Illustration : not a fan.
Slight, mild stereotype : might be.
Nah, don't read this. Ever.
Will not let my children read this.
Moral story : not found.
Illustration : not a fan.
Slight, mild stereotype : might be.
Nah, don't read this. Ever.
Will not let my children read this.
December 18, 2020
Children's picture book imagining the origins of the Mexican recipe for Mole Sauce.
Touches on colonialism with the monks and Viceroy.
Touches on colonialism with the monks and Viceroy.
August 24, 2020
Featured in grandma reads session. . .
Had a culinary diversity moment today, discussing an origin story about mole sauce and how it came to be. . .the kids loved it and had to grab snacks right after! Chicken and chocolate and cinnamon and 30+ ingredients!
That was a fun read. . . .and helps with kids being brave enough to try new flavors.
Had a culinary diversity moment today, discussing an origin story about mole sauce and how it came to be. . .the kids loved it and had to grab snacks right after! Chicken and chocolate and cinnamon and 30+ ingredients!
That was a fun read. . . .and helps with kids being brave enough to try new flavors.
March 2, 2022
What a FUN book! I found this book because of the illustrator, Stefan Czernecki, whose ancestry is Ukrainian.
January 5, 2022
Interesting legend about how molé was invented.
September 4, 2013
Holy mole! is a great book but in my opinion it needs to have a translation for the Spanish words. I also noticed the word choice isn't the best, the author uses either to many simple words or words repeat extra. Other then that the illustrations by Stefan Czernecki are great and show expressions. The books moral seems to be there is always something good that comes out of the bad. This is great for children because it shows that not everything is necessarily bad.
July 30, 2020
Sweet picture book about a boy named Carlos who helps the priests in the monastery made a quick dish for the Viceroy of the Colony of Mexico. An accident causes him to mix up a variety of ingredients and ends up creating mole. A special dish served at weddings and fiestas. Based on a folk tale in Mexico.
September 19, 2020
This is a sweet children’s book based on the folktale of where the molé came from-a mistake while making a dish for the Viceroy of Mexico. This is a great book to expose children to a different cuisine, culture, and language. Hispanic/latinx children will definitely get a kick out of seeing this yummy dish being represented.
November 17, 2018
My students roared with delight at the accidental genius in Holy Mole. More importantly, they were excited to read a book with words, ingredients, and cultural traditions they recognized. I’ve read this one over and over, I’m a big fan!
March 30, 2021
Had a great amount of cultural diversity and giving young children the education about the Mexican culture along with viewing colonialism. Overall great book for readers of all ages, very fun to read and an easier read for older readers.
November 21, 2020
I am a big fan of mol’e. Good story.
January 29, 2021
An orphan boy helps priests cook a meal accidentally adding all the ingredients for mole.
February 1, 2021
I read this to a 4 year old who kind of enjoyed it but has definitely never tried molé but seemed to enjoy it, regardless. I think I enjoyed this one more than she did, but it was a cute story!
March 4, 2021
Super cute with cute graphics! I'm definitely craving mole now.
August 4, 2021
This cute folktale provides an explanation for the "miracle" that is mole in the Mexican cuisine. I thought the book was adorable. Now, if the book also had included a recipe at the end...
March 3, 2025
The Viceroy, the most important man in the colony of Mexico is on his way to visit the poor monastery. Inside the monastery the dynamic between Brother Pascual and Bishop Roberto sets us up for the wonderful characters ahead. The facial expressions of the monks as Brother Pascual is explaining their predicament (short on food) while giving out orders for a sumptuous meal are hilarious. The little kitchen boy, Carlos, an orphan, is ordered to help with making the tortillas. He works for kitchen scrapes and is starving. Carlos darts to grab a raisin-bun that’s fallen to the floor and collides with Brother Pascual and his big tray of seasonings. Everything goes flying and lands in the pot where the turkeys were cooking. Chocolate, chilies, almonds, peanuts, garlic … All of it ends up in the pot.
Dios mio! Cries Brother Pascual falling to his knees in prayer. The meal was ruined! Ah, but was it really?
Holy Moly is such a fun read! This had me laughing out loud.
The depth of characterization in the illustrations, fabulous!
Highly recommend!
Dios mio! Cries Brother Pascual falling to his knees in prayer. The meal was ruined! Ah, but was it really?
Holy Moly is such a fun read! This had me laughing out loud.
The depth of characterization in the illustrations, fabulous!
Highly recommend!
March 31, 2023
The Viceroy is coming! The Viceroy is coming! The people in the monastery must scurry around and prepare food that will impress the most important man in the colony of Mexico.
And so they do, but in the midst of making five different sauces and two desserts, a young boy who works around the monastery collides with the cooks and---Oh no!---everything is accidentally mixed together. And the Viceroy will soon arrive. What a mess!
But is it a mess? Can good things come from bad?
A lovely little story based on an old folktale from Mexico that explains the origin of molé, a thick savory sauce containing chocolate that is served atop chicken or turkey!
And so they do, but in the midst of making five different sauces and two desserts, a young boy who works around the monastery collides with the cooks and---Oh no!---everything is accidentally mixed together. And the Viceroy will soon arrive. What a mess!
But is it a mess? Can good things come from bad?
A lovely little story based on an old folktale from Mexico that explains the origin of molé, a thick savory sauce containing chocolate that is served atop chicken or turkey!
December 22, 2019
This is a children’s book based on the folktale around where the Mexican dish molé came from: a mistake in a monastery. I think children who read this may identify with Carlos’s desire to be helpful, and the brothers’ belief that he is a nuisance. Very simple illustrations on plain white pages make it easy for people to read and appreciate.
September 14, 2020
Interesting traditional tale to explain the origins of the Mexican dish called mole. The illustrations are stereotypical, but maybe that is due to the colonial setting? The little orphan boy is the same size as the adults. He does have a sincere wish to help, however. Back matter explains more of the origin of the tasty food.
February 12, 2022
OH NO! A prominent ambassador is coming to visit a Monastery in Mexico.
Carlos is the kitchen boy and is trying to stay out of the way of the brothers making dinner, but one mishap may ruin the visitors' one perfect meal....or...will it?
A well-known folktale gives us the backstory of how Mole was created, featuring a culinary array of spices, savory and hot, and chocolate!
Carlos is the kitchen boy and is trying to stay out of the way of the brothers making dinner, but one mishap may ruin the visitors' one perfect meal....or...will it?
A well-known folktale gives us the backstory of how Mole was created, featuring a culinary array of spices, savory and hot, and chocolate!
December 31, 2020
While I did not care for the illustration style at all, I thought the story was cute. Definitely not as bad as I was expecting based on some reviews here. I will say that it doesn’t seem quite like a folktale because there isn’t really a moral.
February 3, 2021
Caroline McAlister sounds like she would fit better in as a cast member from Home Alone, not someone who should be telling Mexican folktales. I struggled with getting through this...and it is a picture book!!! Yikes!!!
August 17, 2020
3.5 Stars!
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February 17, 2021seemed to be aimed for middle or upper grade levels, not likely to use in my own classroom
February 28, 2021
The story told the unintentionaly in creating delicious mole that caused by Carlos who known as an obstacle helper in the kitchen. The sauce surprisely liked by the king who visited Mexico.
March 15, 2021
Uninteresting and poor illustrations...
June 6, 2021
The art style is obvious from the cover.
Quick folklore about the origins of molé sauce. I liked that he was in the rafters.
Quick folklore about the origins of molé sauce. I liked that he was in the rafters.
September 12, 2021
Just...no.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews